Cao Mu ran away crying.
Only Cao Cao and Ding Hui remained in the pavilion.
Ding Hui, abandoning her usual icy demeanor, pursed her lips and silently helped Cao Cao remove his ceremonial robes. She seemed to want to persuade Cao Cao to retract his decree in a gentle tone.
"A Man, you want to form a marriage alliance with the Southern Xiongnu. This is a grand undertaking for our nation and family, and I shouldn't stop you, but… it concerns Mu'er. Have you not thought of her deceased mother?"
"Thought of what?"
"Can you truly bear to let your daughter marry into the borderlands? Mu'er is your eldest daughter. Moreover, she manages the blacksmith workshop and enjoys considerable prestige throughout the Cao camp. If you are not marrying such a daughter to a talent like Lu Ziyu, why must you…"
Ding Hui paused at this point.
The words that had been held in her heart for a long time finally came out: "A Man, these years I increasingly fail to understand you."
"To have Miaocai's daughter, Xiahou Juan, marry Lu Ziyu, yet marry your own daughter to the Southern Xiongnu, this is too disparate. The Xiongnu and the Great Han have generations of enmity. Let alone Mu'er, even an ordinary clan lady, I would not agree! How can a daughter of the Cao family marry a Xiongnu?"
Hoo…
Hearing this, Cao Cao let out a light sigh.
"How could I not know what my wife thinks? But an alliance with the Southern Xiongnu is a matter of military strategy. Emperor Wu swept through the Xiongnu, yet he married Wang Zhaojun to the Xiongnu royal court, exchanging forty years of peace for the Great Han's borders. Does my wife know what forty years mean to me, Cao Cao?"
Yes…
Because of Lu Yu's existence, forty years… meant too much. Perhaps it could lead to unifying the world, perhaps to reshaping this chaotic era!
These… how could Ding Hui not know?
She knitted her brows and even staggered back, sitting down on the bed. "But… but Mu'er is your own flesh and blood daughter! What kind of father pushes his daughter into a fire pit!"
"This world is inherently about alliances and conflicts. As the daughter of me, Cao Cao, she must bear the heavy responsibility of reshaping this world! Mu'er must not only marry, but marry with splendor!"
Cao Cao did not relent at all.
He wanted to make Lady Ding feel this sense of "despair," and this despair would be passed on, spreading to the common folk… This could deepen the trust of the Xiongnu envoys.
It could also ensure that the Left Xian King of the Southern Xiongnu comes to Xudu City to welcome the bride!
Only then would it be convenient for Yu'er's next move!
This was a grand strategy!
Ding Hui showed a look of compassion. "It's just… it's just a pity for Mu'er!"
"Many are wronged. To achieve greatness, ten thousand bones wither; the great river flows east, filled with the blood of heroes. How many people are wronged!" Cao Cao stood with his hands behind his back, his tone growing colder.
He was a natural actor!
The conversation between Cao Cao and Ding Hui was overheard by Cao Mu outside the door…
Her face turned pale with shock at her father's intentions. She shivered and turned away quietly. Upon reaching her own room, she clenched her fists, as if having made a decision. A sense of heartache mixed with dizziness washed over her.
She did not want to marry into the Xiongnu! She wanted to save herself!
And… the only one who could save her now was… was the Marquis of White Horse, Lu Yu!
But… in the court this afternoon, Lu Yu did not try to dissuade her father!
Self-rescue… she had to save herself!
"If…"
"If…"
Cao Mu spoke with difficulty.
"Father, I have no choice but to take a dangerous step!"
Biting her crimson lips, she made a bold yet extremely difficult decision!
She faced the bronze mirror, pursed her lips, and dressed herself up for the first time. This girl, whose skin was a bit dark from blacksmithing, became alluring and charming after a series of adornments!
…
…
Roast meat was grilling on the stove, and the wine pot for warming wine was steaming. He Yan took out the warmed wine and poured it for Zhuge Jun. He also cut off a piece of roast meat and placed it on Zhuge Jun's plate.
He Yan and Zhuge Jun were drinking in the "Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion."
Zhuge Jun's expression was extremely complex. He lowered his head, knitted his brows, and stared intently at He Yan, as if wanting to know more from his words.
He Yan, however, smiled and said, "Kongming, you should congratulate me! I am about to do something as grand as the exploits of Marquis of Champion Huo Qubing and Marquis of Lie Wei Qing in the past! Perhaps, with the help of Young Master Lu, the great deeds that Marquis of Champion and Marquis of Lie failed to accomplish might be realized through me! Isn't this another form of 'seal the wolf and live in Xu'?"
This…
Zhuge Jun's brows furrowed even tighter.
He naturally knew what He Yan was talking about… marrying into the Xiongnu as a prince consort while being a man. As for the great deeds, Zhuge Jun had not yet understood.
He only knew that this was an extremely dangerous undertaking.
"Ping Shu, I admire you!" Zhuge Jun raised his wine cup and drank it down.
"Do not admire me, you should admire your teacher, Lu Ziyu!" He Yan said with a smile. "Initially, when I first heard of this task, I was also very surprised and found it incredible. But… when I heard Young Master Lu's profound reasoning, I suddenly felt that what I was about to do was something even greater than 'heaven'!"
"Compared to this matter, hehe… everything else is insignificant. Just as Young Master Lu said, my aspirations, He Pingshu's aspirations, have been broadened!"
Uh… something greater than heaven?
Zhuge Jun's eyes rolled, and he asked curiously, "May I ask, Brother Ping Shu, how did Young Master Lu persuade you?"
"This… is a long story!" He Yan took a sip of wine and spoke eloquently.
"Might you elaborate?"
"Kongming, do you know that in the thirty-second year of Qin Shi Huang's reign, he attacked the Xiongnu, occupied the Hetao region, and pushed all the way to the Northern River! Emperor Wu of Han attacked the Xiongnu from the north and restored the glory of the Western Regions! Among the emperors of successive generations, there were not a few who swept across the desert, but what was the result? Why did the areas beyond the frontier still belong to the Xiongnu? Why did the Xiongnu give way to the Wuhuan, Xianbei, and the Southern Xiongnu, only to rise again? Why was the Hetao region gained and lost, lost and regained, in a continuous cycle? Why did the influence of the Protectorate of the Western Regions gradually weaken, even to the point of being a mere formality today? Why did every dynasty spend a large amount of manpower and financial resources to resist the barbarians, yet achieve little?"
He Yan spoke on and on…
These were topics that Lu Yu had discussed with him, and Zhuge Jun naturally did not know, so he perked up his ears, ready to listen attentively.
"Because…" He Yan's voice continued. "Because the foundation of the Xiongnu people's livelihood is not agriculture. Their land is barren, and they cannot grow enough grain. Simply put, they are so poor that they cannot even produce oil. Therefore… what is the point of the Qin people and the Han people conquering these borderlands?"
"You must know… beyond the frontier, there is not only grassland, but also desert. These deserts… the nobles of the Qin and Han dynasties had no interest in them, because without interest, who would establish a foothold there? Who would build cities there? Therefore, even if you fight, it's in vain… Therefore, even if the Qin and Han attacked the Xiongnu from the north and annihilated their royal court, it was only self-defense! Because the wasteland in the desert was worthless, the Han people eventually had to return to Guanzhong to farm. But… in this way, after decades, the barbarians would change their names, rise again in the desert, and descend south to raid the borders, causing endless trouble!"
This was indeed true…
Although Zhuge Jun's mind was not quick, he was well-read. As a child, he had discussed this topic with his elder brother, "True Kongming."
It seemed that according to his elder brother's view, the Han Dynasty could only adopt a defensive stance against the Xiongnu. It was not that they could not attack, but that there was nothing to attack!
An attack without benefit was not like bandits extorting money?
"So… the fundamental cause is to plant grain in the desert! If grain can be planted, then the land that is conquered will not be worthless, but infinitely valuable!" Zhuge Jun retorted.
"Precisely!" He Yan nodded. "Young Master Lu enlightened me. The world bustles for profit; the world strives for profit. Everything a person does is for profit. The Xiongnu raid southward for profit, and the Han only defend or withdraw to the interior after attacking, also for profit."
"To put it bluntly, our ancestors, the Han people, were more powerful, having laid down this most prosperous land for us descendants! But undeniably, at heart, the Han and the barbarians are of the same kind, all profit-seekers, driven by self-interest!"
"If a fertile land of abundance suddenly appeared in the desolate lands beyond the frontier, within a year, those noble families would voluntarily unite and attack! They would crazily seize this land beyond the frontier and utterly annihilate the Xiongnu! Moreover… around these 'fertile' lands, human greed would be fully exposed. The Han people would proactively come here to build strongholds, assimilate and integrate the barbarians, and even use the barbarians as their slaves. These simple-minded, strong-limbed barbarians are not the best labor force?"
He Yan paused at this point.
"Therefore, Young Master Lu's words made me completely understand. War with the barbarians is not a matter of open conflict. Even if ten Wei Qings and Huo Qubings drove the Xiongnu out of the frontier ten more times, it would not solve the fundamental problem. The fundamental problem lies in grain. Grain must be planted in the desert! Only by achieving this can the barbarians cease to be barbarians and become Han. 'Hu wu ren, Han dao chang' (No barbarians, Han path prospers)."
"Also, there are six words that Young Master Lu mentioned that I will never forget…"
"What!" Zhuge Jun quickly asked.
"‘Hu wu ren, Han dao chang!’"
When He Yan uttered these six words, Zhuge Jun was as if struck by lightning.
So…
It turned out to be like this!
No wonder Ping Shu mentioned he was going to do something comparable to Marquis of Lie Wei Qing and Marquis of Champion Huo Qubing. Now… in Zhuge Jun's eyes, if one could truly achieve "No barbarians, Han path prospers," it would be far more than comparable; it would be surpassing… this was something Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han had not achieved!
No wonder He Yan was so determined!
His aspirations… were indeed completely broadened!
In fact, people are like this. Once they have a noble ideal, they can endure hunger, endure poverty, and become noble, pure individuals, detached from vulgar tastes.
Historically, He Yan was a very low-level person. He thought every day about how to get high on five-stone powder, completely discarding ideals and beliefs.
And now, he had simply found something more interesting.
However…
There was still a huge problem.
"Ping Shu? I have something I don't understand…" Zhuge Jun spoke…
"Kongming, do not hesitate to speak your mind!" He Yan said while pouring wine.
"Can grain truly be grown in the desert? What kind of grain can be grown?" Zhuge Jun immediately posed the question in his heart.
This was his biggest doubt.
This was also the core of this "great undertaking"!
Hahaha…
Unexpectedly, He Yan laughed, a hearty laugh.
"Kongming, whether grain can be grown in the desert, I don't know. But… if Young Master Lu says it can be grown, then it can definitely be grown."
He Yan narrowed his eyes. "As for what kind of grain? Hehe, it's rice… Although I was surprised when I first heard of 'rice'! But… it seems that Young Master Lu's words have never been wrong, so I should trust him on this!"
This…
Zhuge Jun knitted his brows!
Rice? Planting rice in the desert?
You must know… since ancient times, the desert has been a symbol of "difficulty and desolation." Let alone rice, not even a single hair could grow there.
Rice?
This suggestion, Young Master Lu was truly bold to propose, and He Yan was truly bold to listen.
Of course, Zhuge Jun did not know that…
Rice can indeed be grown in the desert, and the yield is very high…
You must know that in most sandy areas in our country, the groundwater level is high, the reserves are large, and the light and heat are sufficient. Rain and heat are in the same season, and the frost-free period is long, making it a natural place for planting rice.
However…
To plant rice on it, a problem must be solved, and that is the problem of sandy soil leaking water and fertilizer.
Of course…
This was a problem that seemed completely insurmountable in ancient times, but it was extremely simple for Lu Yu.
In later generations, scientists conducted numerous experiments, using plastic as an impermeable layer, laying it under the sand at a depth of 30-80 centimeters, with plastic liners around the edges to form bunds. Wells were dug next to the field beds to create experimental rice fields in the desert!
The conclusion was that the yield was astonishing!
Simply put, as long as water and fertilizer can be retained through certain methods, the desert can be transformed into fertile land for planting rice.
Although "plastic" did not exist in ancient times, there were many substitutes!
Of course, these were no different from the selection of sandy land, and required repeated practice…
A great man once said: "I have two dreams, one is the dream of resting under the shade of rice, and the other is the dream of hybrid rice covering the globe."
Lu Yu's ideological realm was naturally not as high as that of great men, but… planting rice in the desert, standing on the shoulders of giants, he had a certain degree of confidence!
"Uncle Ping seems to have made up his mind."
Zhuge Jun's tone became more serious.
"Haha…" He Yan was still relaxed. "Young Master Lu wants me to find sandy land in the desert beyond the frontier where rice can be planted. As long as this type of sandy land can successfully grow rice, the subsequent matters will be simple… Once the planting method is successfully promoted, within ten years, it will be possible to achieve the vision of 'No barbarians, Han path prospers'!"
Speaking of this…
He Yan suddenly stood up.
Zhuge Jun thought he was going to relieve himself and didn't pay much attention, but remained immersed in their conversation, his mood unable to calm for a long time.
"No barbarians, Han path prospers?"
Zhuge Jun paused…
But at this moment.
On the stage of the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion, a gust of fragrant wind blew, and a stunning figure emerged gracefully. Her slender jade fingers, fair and tender, were captivating.
With lotus-like steps, she began to dance gracefully. Clad in white, she was as beautiful as a spring bamboo shoot, and as graceful as a rain-beaten banana leaf!
Even Zhuge Jun, who had always been uninterested in women other than "Cao Mu," was captivated.
Just as his eyes moved up… and met the eyes of the beautiful dancer on the stage.
*Crack…*
As if an electric current coursed through his body.
"Ping… Ping Shu! It's… it's Ping Shu!"
Zhuge Jun looked at He Yan in astonishment. His pupils widened to the extreme, and the figure on the stage was truly… truly He Yan!
This wasn't the main point. The main point was… at this moment, he was simply… simply more feminine than a woman!
Her eyebrows were finely arched, her apricot eyes were filled with spring, her pupils were like flowing water, and her face was like a peach blossom. She was so beautiful.
And that dance…
Her face was veiled by light gauze as she danced, alluringly but not seductively, captivating everyone present.
This… this was the newly appointed princess consort of the Left Xian King of the Southern Xiongnu?
This was the "princess" who was about to… to go beyond the frontier?
Even the former Wang Zhaojun, perhaps, was no more than this?
He was mesmerized…
Zhuge Jun was utterly mesmerized!
Indeed, the ancients did not deceive me. When men become flamboyant, women have no place!
…
…
Still that evening, a crescent moon, pale and expressionless, emitted a cold, faint light.
It had witnessed too much of human joy and sorrow, so it remained indifferent to everything, not even letting out a gentle sigh.
At this moment, in the White Horse Marquis's mansion, a courtyard to the left of the entrance, corresponding to the courtyard of Princess Wannian Liu Xue to the right, the courtyard on the left was Xiahou Juan's.
Some firewood was placed in the courtyard, which Xiahou Juan had gathered during the day. When she had nothing else to do… she still couldn't break her habit of going to Rangshan to gather firewood.
However, under the cold moonlight.
A woman with a beautiful face and fair complexion stood before Xiahou Juan. As it was summer, she seemed to be deliberately wearing very little, her figure vaguely visible, inevitably evoking imagination.
"Sister Juan'er, if it weren't… if it weren't for being forced, I… I would never do this!"
The woman speaking was Cao Mu…
Her teeth bit her lip as she confided something to Xiahou Juan.
Xiahou Juan's face was as pale as paper, as if she had heard something unbelievable…
"Sister Mu, if you do this… does Uncle know? Does Aunt know?"
The uncle mentioned by Xiahou Juan was naturally Cao Cao, and the aunt was Ding Hui…
As soon as these words were spoken…
Cao Mu shook her head. "No, they don't. Father's intention is very firm, he insists on marrying me to the Southern Xiongnu. Now I… the only way I can save myself is, is Lu… Lu Ziyu!"
Cao Mu had already explained her plan to Xiahou Juan. Simply put, she wanted Xiahou Juan to get Lu Yu drunk, and then… for this night, she, Cao Mu, would take Xiahou Juan's place to serve Lu Yu.
After one night, when the deed was done, she, Cao Mu, would also become a "madam" of the Marquis's mansion. In this way, how could her father still marry her off to the Xiongnu!
Even if her father Cao Cao insisted then, would… would Lu Yu remain indifferent?
As long as he spoke a word to persuade her father, Cao Mu could avoid marrying into the borderlands and avoid spending her life in the vast yellow sands and boundless deserts!
Self-rescue…
This was her only way to save herself.
"Sister Mu, this is not something I can help with alone!" Xiahou Juan gritted her teeth. "My husband is always guarded by the warriors of the Dragon Cavalry Camp. Even if Commander Dian is not here, those closest to my husband were personally selected by Commander Dian and would never stand idly by!"
"I… I…"
Cao Mu hesitated. "Sister Juan'er, rest assured, I have already thought of this and have persuaded them."
A mere sentence…
But Cao Mu had made many preparations.
Of course, it wasn't difficult for her to achieve this. It couldn't even be called "bribing," because the relationship between the blacksmith workshop and the Dragon Cavalry Camp was too close. The armor on the warriors of the Dragon Cavalry Camp, the sabers at their waists, and the halberds on the battlefield all came from Cao Mu's side.
Therefore… Cao Mu had a very close relationship with them.
And the relationship between Dian Wei and Cao Mu was even more so!
Initially, it was Dian Wei who taught Cao Mu blacksmithing. They were considered "master and disciple" without a formal title!
Therefore, Cao Mu knew every warrior of the Dragon Cavalry Camp by Lu Yu's side, and every warrior of the White Horse Marquis's mansion.
And Cao Mu did not hide it, directly telling them her plan…
Deep down, every warrior of the Dragon Cavalry Camp did not want Miss Cao Mu to marry into the Xiongnu. On this point, they would definitely help Cao Mu!
Besides…
This didn't seem to cause any loss to Commander Lu!
At most, it would just be the loss of gaining another wife out of thin air!
"Gulp…"
Hearing this, Xiahou Juan swallowed. She gritted her teeth and looked into Cao Mu's eyes again. They were eyes of unwavering determination.
"All the plans have been made. Tonight, Lu Ziyu will drink with the soldiers of the Dragon Cavalry Camp, he will get drunk, and the soldiers will escort him to Sister Juan'er's pavilion!"
Cao Mu's words came tumbling out.
Her tone grew more resolute.
"Sister Juan'er only needs to confirm that he is drunk. The rest… leave it to me!"
At this point.
Cao Mu paused.
"Even if… even if I become a concubine in the Marquis's mansion, I… I will never marry that Left Xian King of the Xiongnu!"
"When I first met Lu Ziyu, he said I was willful. Then tonight, let me be completely willful for once!"
What Cao Mu did not know was!
This… was no longer just willfulness, it was madness, complete madness!
…
…